Tuesday, August 31, 2010

These are some smart birds in this video displaying their problem solving abilities. Crows and Blue Jays, both in the Corvid Family, test out highest on bird IQ tests devised by researchers. Dr. Bird also mentions how Orangutans solve a similar problem, but with a different method, that Crows do in this video below.

I have observed American Crows (Corvusbrachyrhynchos) in the USA attempt to "bait" a Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteolineatus). The Hawk had just dove down and killed a Eastern Cottontail Rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus) and was standing on top of the prey. The Rabbit was firmly in the grip of the Hawk's talons. A group of Crows saw the kill and were sitting in a nearby tree making a ruckus, cawing. A single Crow then flew down near the Hawk and casually walked towards the Hawk and its fresh prey. I could not believe it! The Hawk leaped at the Crow but held onto the prey, not fooled by the Crows' trick. The trick is for the Hawk to leave the prey, the Rabbit, and chase the single Crow. The other Crows then fly down and attempt to steal the prey, the Rabbit. I did not know about this Crow trick when I first saw this event. I later said that was the fastest I ever saw a Crow jump backwards in my life, as the larger Hawk lunged at him! lol

Time Video: The aptly named Dr. Chris Bird discovers the remarkable problem-solving abilities of birds like crows and rooks.